Format guide
What is R?
R script is a r script stored as plain text for compilers and editors, created by Language / tooling ecosystem. R files are source text. Convert between text formats for docs or archives — keep originals in version control.
R format specifications
- Full name
- R script
- Kind
- source code / plain text
- File extension
- .r
- MIME type
- text/x-r
- Developer / standard
- Language / tooling ecosystem
- Compression
- None (plain text)
- Quality model
- Lossless / not lossy
- Container
- No / single bitstream typical
- Common codecs
- —
- Technical sources
- —
- Transparency
- Not supported
- Animation
- No (still / non-animated typical use)
- Typical size
- Tiny to moderate depending on project size
- Browser support
- Opened as text/download — not a visual format
- Compatibility
- Any code editor; language tooling varies
R compression & quality
R is plain text. “Compression” only applies if you ZIP/GZ the file for transport.
Quality: Exact text — no visual compression
Typical size: Tiny to moderate depending on project size
Transparency & animation
Not an image format — transparency does not apply.
Not an animation format.
R metadata
Usually none beyond encoding and editor settings.
Best use cases for R
- R projects
- Source control
- Code review and diffs
When to avoid R
- End-user document sharing
- Non-technical email attachments without context
Advantages
- Human-readable
- Diff-friendly
- Tiny compared with binaries
Disadvantages
- Not a user document format
- Needs the right runtime/toolchain
- Easy to break with bad encoding
Compatibility
Any code editor; language tooling varies
Browsers: Opened as text/download — not a visual format
Software support
- VS Code
- JetBrains IDEs
- Git
- Format Convertly (text paths)
Device support
- Developer workstations
How to open R
Open R files in any code editor (VS Code, Vim, JetBrains).
How to convert R
Convert R to other text formats (TXT, MD, PDF where supported) privately in Format Convertly — do not upload proprietary source to random sites.
Popular R conversions
Related formats
R tools
Tools extend the format graph beyond one-off conversion — compression, metadata, and utilities for real workflows.
R FAQ
What is a R file?
R is R script. It is plain text source for developers.
Is converting R lossy?
Text conversion is usually lossless for characters, but formatting/semantics can change if you target documents like PDF/DOCX.
Are my R files uploaded on Format Convertly?
No. R conversion runs in your browser. Files are not sent to Format Convertly servers for processing.